Airworks to service Solomon Airlines' international flights

Solomon Airlines has announced that it is leasing a 737-400 aircraft from Airworks of New Zealand to service its international routes which started on Sunday 17th March, 2013

The lease will last until the end of March while Solomon Airlines’ Airbus A320 undergoes additional maintenance work in the Philippines.

Solomon Airlines General Manager Operations and Commercial, Gus Kraus says the arrangement will ease disruptions in flight schedules faced by international passengers in recent weeks.

“The lease will normalise the airlines international flight schedule and we can renew it should the maintenance work on the Airbus take even longer as we must abide by these maintenance planning issues and ensure we have a clean Airbus on its return to our operation. This added period is mainly trying to source additional parts and ensuring compliance with all the directives from Airbus”

Over the past two weeks, Solomon Airlines has relied on partner airlines Our Airlines (Air Nauru) and Air Vanuatu to provide international support flights after an agreement with Alliance Airlines fell through due to regulatory issues with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) of Australia.

“Although costly for Solomon Airlines, this arrangement with Airworks is necessary so that we can continue to provide service to our passengers and the public at large.”

Solomon Airlines also advised that its Dash 8 aircraft, which was unserviceable from Sunday 10th March, 2013 whilst waiting for parts from overseas, had commenced flying again on Friday 15th March, 2013 and is currently maintaining its scheduled operation.

“I would like to thank our passengers for their understanding continued support as well as their patience through this trying time,” said Kraus.